Molten "Dragon" Rock: A close-up of molten lava cooling and creating shapes of Earth that last only seconds, 61g Flow, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Big Island. A tumulus (domelike swelling of congealed lava) breaks out less than 20 feet from where this photo was taken. By far, one of the largest, hottest, and fastest observed breakouts on the 61g surface flow field. The type of cooled lava shown here is blue pahoehoe (lava with a smooth or ropy surface).

Lava Cooling Into Pahoehoe, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Big IslandMolten "Dragon" Rock: A close-up of molten lava cooling and creating shapes of Earth that last only seconds, 61g Flow, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Big Island. A tumulus (domelike swelling of congealed lava) breaks out less than 20 feet from where this photo was taken. By far, one of the largest, hottest, and fastest observed breakouts on the 61g surface flow field. The type of cooled lava shown here is blue pahoehoe (lava with a smooth or ropy surface).